Washing machine



Dec. 24, 1929. A. w. ALToRFl-:R 1,740,938

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, 1929. A. w. ALToRFl-:R

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 2. 1925 2` Sheets-Sheet Y 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNTE ST'E'E Parana esi-ics essere Application led July 2, 1925. Serial No. 41,150.

This invention has reference to improvements in washing machines, and particularly to that class of machines employing a washing element or elements operative from and b a shaft passing up through the bottom o the tub and actuated from mechanism below the tub or container.

The principal object of the invention, is the supporting of the gear housing or, casingy below the tub, by suspending the same from the frame in which the tub is located, and to a iiew and novel means for journaling the shaft, which passes up through the tub bottom', and to the means for clamping or securing the tub in the frame and to the gear casing or housing.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of improved securing means for clamping the tubular post, in which the shaft has a journal bearing, to the gear casing or housing, and to a water shed on said shaft, at the gear casing or housing, for diverting casual water trickling down the shaft from getting into the gear casing or housing.

i The invention has for a further object to introduce into the driving gearing, a crown gear which eliminates end thrust and which also removes the necessity for line adjustments.

A still further object of the invention is in the improved tub or container bottom and the drain therefor.

That the invention ma be more fully understood, reference is ha to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this description, illustrating a vpreferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section showing a washing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in section of the gear casing or housing and showing the arrangement of gearing therein and the manner and means of clamping the tubular post or casing to the -gear casing or housing;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, as the saine would appear, if taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, in elevation, as thesame would appear, if taken on the line 50 4--4 Fig. 2;

I 9. Should there Fig. 5 is av cross-section, in elevation, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 5 5 Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a detail in section through the tub bottom showing a bracing means, and silencer against vibration and also the drain.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the fi lires.

The frame of the machine inc udes a plurality of standards or legs 1 having casters 2 at their lower ends for ease and convenience in moving the machine from'place to place, and a series of preferably approximately circular frames 3, 4, and 5 superimposed in spaced relation, one above the other. The frames 3 and 5 are located at or near the bottom and top of the le s or standards, respectively, as shown, an may be flat bands, whereas the frame 4 is preferably an angleiron band located intermediate the frames 3 and 5 and forms or provides the frame support on which the tub or container 6 rests, or is supported. The bottom 7 of this tub or container is dished or saucer shaped, as shown, its lowermost point bein axially of the tub. It is strengthened or raced centrally'by the preferably asbestos sheet or plate 8, next adjacent the outside of the bottom and held in lace by the stiienin plate gie an vibration of t e tub bottom, due to the was ing action the asbestos sheet or plate will act as a silencer to prevent rumbling or thumping. Both the sheet or plate 8 and the plate 9 have an opening 10 therethrough next adjacent the center or axis of the tub throu h which projects a coupling 11 secured to t e tub bottom and in communication therewith to act as a drain and from said coupling a drain pipe 12 extends to one side of the tub and having a regulating or drain valve 13.

The washing element 14, arranged to be suitably supported and operated within the tub or container 6 may be an agitator or dolly of any desired or approved construction, and while detached to some extent is not specifically claimed herein and it is thought, therefore, need not be further referred to in detail. Suice it to say, that such an agitator or dolly is arranged for clutch connection to the upper end of a shaft pa up through the tub bottom 7 and arranged or operative connection with actuating mechanism located beneath the tub. As shown, the agi tator or dolly may have a detachable connection with the upper end oi the shaitl by means 'ot a suitable coupling 16.'

rThe bearing for the shaftl within the tub," comprises preferably upstanding tubular post or casing 17 arranged. for insertion a hanged member '19 at or near its lower end, A

between which and the upper inside face of the tub bottom a suitable gasket or packing is inserted, to form or .provide a seal' against leakage, suoli lange and gasket or packing being d1 awn iirmly down and against the'tub bottom, in a manner to be eX- plained.

gear casing or housing, comprises The preferaly elongated and suitably shaped rather shallow superimposed sections 20 and 21, adapted to be removably attached to each i other by bolts and nuts 22. When united and housin the operating gearing, such casing or housing is dlsposed diametrlcally of, below and next adjacent the bottom of the tub 6,

4 by. means of bolts 23 connected to the framev as shown in Figs. land 2 and thesame secured to and held suspended from the frame 4- and said casing or housing and vpreferably passing through the spacingl sleeves 24. The,

upper section 21, of said casing or housing', at a point, where it crosses andis coincident with the axis of the tub, 1s formed or lprovided With an overlying shell or casing having an opening 26 therethrough and the head wall 27 thereof, when the ear casing or ',housin is secured in position, ears against Athe un er side of the plate 9 secured to the under side of the tub bottom. Alsowhen the gear casing or housin is secured in operative position, see Fig. 2, the shaft 15 passes down through the post or casing 17, through the upper wall of the section 21 and has bearing in the lower Wall of the section 20. Furthermore,'the lowermost end of the tubular post or casing 17 extendsdown, partway, intothe overlying shell or casing 25 stopping short of the upper wall of the section 21, as shown.

` On the extreme lower end of the shaft 15 is slidably connected a pinion 28 arranged to be moved into and out of meshing relation with a segment gear or rack 29 pivotaily supported within the gear casing or housing and to and within the section 20 and has connected thereto a pitman bar 30 in pivotal connection with a gear 'wheel 31, also journaled in'said gear casing or housing and which is inmesh with avancee a driving pinion 32 on a short vertical shaft 33 journaled in the section 20 of the gear casing or housing and a supplemental housing, 34 secured to and suspended below the section 2O of-said gear casing or housing. @n the lower en d of said short shaft 33 is secured, a preferably crown gear wheel 35 with which meshes an 'ordinary spur gear wheel 36 on a short transverse shaft 37 to which is secured a pulley wheel 38 adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power and a belt, not shown. The use of a crown gear wheel for the transmission of the power from the driving shaft to the operating shaft 15 will eliminate the line adjustments 'ordinarily found necessary in machines of this character and obviates the usual thrust which is noisy and maires possible an easy, smooth and noiseless f receives its power and said gear wheel 39 adapted to operate a vertically disposed shaft 40 from which power may be transmitted toy the usual wrnger mechanism not shown, although its support 41 is shown in Fig. 1.

The means employed to move the pinion 28 into and. out. of mesh vwith the segment gear or rae: 29 is a levying arm 42 proj ecting up at the side ofthe machine and connected with a rod 43, see-Fig. 3, which has secured to its nearer end the yoke 44 engaging a grooved collar 45 connected with the pinion 28, whereby upon the oscillation of the rod 43 the pinion may be alternately raised and lowered as shown 4in dotted and fulllines in Fig. 5, so as to disconnect and connect said pinion with segment gear or rack 29. This arrangement, as will be understood, permits the motor to operate continuously when the machine is in use and yet provides a simple and convenient means for the attendant to connect and disconnect the actuating mechanism cf the dolly with the source of power.

When the several parts described are in asshaft l5 and within the shell or casing 25 a hanged collar 4G, preferably below the end of the tubular post or casing 17 which acts as a water shed to divert any casual water which may trickle down the shaft 15 from entering the gear casing or housing, which naturally would be detrimental to an efficient operation of the* gearing journaled and operating wit-hin said gear casing or housing. V

The tub 6 together with the tubular postor casing17 are iirmly clamped in position on the frame and to the gear casing or housing by means of a nut 47 which is screwed on to the threaded lower end of the tubular post or casing 17, as is best seen in Fig. 2 and between said nut and the head wall 27 of the shell or casing 25 is interposed a gasket or washer 48 of suitable material.

The manner of assembling the tub 6, the operating shaft 15. the tubular post or casing 17 the gear casing or housing, and tlie firmly clamping together ot the tub 6, the tubular post or casing-17 and the gear casing or housing constitute one of the novel :and essential features of the structure hereinabove described. Assuming that the gear casing or housing is supported in suspended relation to and from the frame 4, the tub 6 is dropped into position between the legs or standards so as to rest on the frame 4 in the manner shown and with the plate 9 secured to the bottom of the tub in abutting relation with the head wall 27 of the shell or casing 25 superimposed onthe section 21 of said gear casing or housing. The tubular post or casing 17 is then placed in position with its extreme lower end inserted through the axial opening 18 in the tub and the plates connected beneath and thereto. The lower end of said tubular post or casing will stop short of the upper wall of the section 21 of the gear casing or housing and within the shell or casing 25, as shown, Superimposed thereon. 'Ifhe operating shaft 15 may he conveniently placed at the same time that the tubular post or casing 17 is positioned, with said operating shaft being inserted down and through the upper wall of the section 21 of the gear casing or housing `and into operative relation with the pinion 28 arranged to have a slidable relation thereon. However, before. or at the same time that the tubular post or casing 17 and the operating shaft 15 are placed in position, the nut 47 and the flanged collar 46 are inserted through the opening 26 into and within the shell or casing 25 to be in axial alignment with said shaft and said tubular post or casing so that the anged collar may have a snug 'it on said shaft and embrace or surround the opening in the upper wall of the section 21 ot the gear casing or housing in which said shaft has a bearing, as best seen in Fig. 2 and with the nut 47 in position to be screwed on to the lower threaded end of the tubular post or casing 17. It has already been explained that between the nut 47 and the head Wall 27 of the shell or casing 25, a suitable gasket or washer is placed and a suitable gasket or Washer placed between the flange 19 on the tubular post or casing 17 and the bottom Wall of the tub. This structure seals the connection with the tub at this point against leakage and the nut 47 when screwed into position firmly clamps the tubular post or casing 17, the tub 6 and the gear casing or housing securely together. While the upper end of the tubular post or casing 17 is normally above the water line of the tub, should-any water work itself down from the top of the operating shaft 15 and through the tubular post or casing 17 it will be diverted at the lower end of said tubular post or casing 17 over the flanged co1- lar 46 on to the top of the gear casing or housing and be prevented from entering such gear casing or housing around said operating shaft 15 where it has a bearing in the upper wall of the section 21 of said gear casing or housing. This condition is not likely to exist but as a safeguard I have provided this water shed in the form of the flanged collar 46.

As will be apparent power is transmitted from the shaft-37 through the pinion 36 and crown gear 35 to the gear wheel 31 which will impart reciprocal movement to the pitman bar 30and oscillate the rack or segment gear 29 and alternately rotate the dolly shaft 15 in opposite directions, when the pinion 28 is in mesh with said rack. The pinion'is arranged to be manually raised and lowered out of and into engagement with said rack, through and by means of the operators lever 42.

What I claim is 1. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame including standards and connecting annular rings, a gear casing supported by and suspended from one of said rings, a tub adapted to rest on said last mentioned ring,

a tubular post extending through the bottomof said tub, anda nut adapted to engage the lower end of said post to clamp the post and tub and casing together.

2. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame including standards and connecting annular rings, a gear casing supported by and suspended from one of said rings, a tu adapted to rest on said last mentioned ring, a tubular post extending through the bottom of said tub, a dolly shaft journaled in said lpost and casing, a nut adapted to engage the lower end of said post to clamp the post and tub and casing together, and a flanged collar on said shaft below the lower end of said post adapted to act as a water shed.

3. In a washing machine, a frame, a tub thereon, a gear casing located beneath said tub, means for suspending said casing from said frame, and means for clamping said casing and tub together, said clamping means located centrally of the tub.

4. In a washing machine, a tub having a saucer shaped bottom, and a vibration si- 

